Photo credit: Ray Benjamin
Nearly 2,000 spectators gathered at Springfield National Airport Wednesday evening to greet and welcome home the 81 veterans who returned from the Honor Flight of the Ozarks. Along with the largest crowd the Flight has seen in years, the veterans aboard the chartered 737 received an aerial water salute as the airport fire department provided the plane with a water cannon salute forming a rainbow arch above the plane as it landed.
The rain in Washington D.C. didn’t stop the veterans from visiting the military memorials. They visited the Korean War Memorial, the Vietnam Wall and the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.
Flight Coordinator David Snider says “The only sound at the Tomb was the sound of raindrops hitting the ground and the Sentinel’s footsteps, very moving and our veterans were locked on.”
As the veterans entered the terminal at the Springfield Airport, the Shrine band played the service anthems while the crowed cheered and waived flags and welcome signs.
Plans are underway for the next Honor Flight scheduled for Aug. 13.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI